Spring Break Beach Booze Ban Passed by Florida County

Spring breakers accustomed to knocking a few back while they enjoy Florida’s sun and sand might want to think twice before popping a top on a Bay County beach.

That county’s commission passed an emergency ordinance that bans beach drinking on beaches in unincorporated areas through April 18, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported. The county has also urged the Panama City Beach City Council to follow its lead and do the same.

The ban comes on the heels of a shooting at a spring break party that left seven people injured, the paper pointed out.

Commissioners also opted to extend a local ordinance that stops the sale of alcohol after 2 a.m. through April 18 and has made it illegal for anyone under 21 to enter clubs or bars unless they have military identification, My Panhandle reported.

Commissioners also intend to look at making the beach drinking ban extend from March 1 through April 18 in 2016. They’ll meet in May to discuss the prospect, WCTV reported.

See Also:

• Naked Paint Parties Prompt Church’s Loss of Tax-Exempt Status
• Florida Lawmaker Accused of Punching Spring Breaker
• Former Student Has Chilling Warning for Spring Break Revelers

Opponents of the county’s actions have said they fear the moves will add up to kill spring break tourism boosts Bay County enjoys each year. Drinking on the beach is already illegal in some parts of Florida. Clearwater, a popular spring break destination, for example, bans drinking on all public property. That ban includes Clearwater Beach. Volusia County, the home of Daytona Beach, also has a similar ban.

Bay County has cracked down on other forms of perceived spring break overindulgence this year. In March, the county’s tax collector removed a church’s tax-exempt status after officials deemed that nightly college-age parties crossed a line.

County Tax Appraiser Dan Sowell deemed The Life Center’s $20 donation “naked paint parties” and slumber parties featuring the “sexiest ladies on the beach” made it more of a “bottle club” than a place of worship.

Image via Shutterstock

What do you think of the move? Smart way to keep the fun under control or does it go too far in penalizing all spring breakers? Tell us what you think by commenting below!

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